The Holy Rosary

English Prayers & Instructions

1. Sign of the Cross
   In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2. Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

3. Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

4. Hail Mary (three times)

For an increase in peace, hope, and charity. (optional)

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

5. Glory Be

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

6. Announce the First Mystery
   (Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, or Glorious, depending on the day)

   • Joyful – Monday & Saturday

     1. The Annunciation – The angel Gabriel announces that Jesus is to be born.
     2. The Visitation – The baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaps for joy when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visits her.
     3. The Nativity – Jesus is born in a stable in Bethlehem.
     4. The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple – Jesus is presented to God in the Temple in accordance with Jewish Law.
     5. Finding Jesus in the Temple – Jesus is found teaching the high priests in the Temple.

   • Luminous – Thursday

     1. The Baptism of Jesus – Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.
     2. The Wedding at Cana – Jesus performs His first miracle, changing water into wine.
     3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom – Jesus calls all to conversion and announces the Kingdom of God.
     4. The Transfiguration – Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John on Mount Tabor.
     5. The Institution of the Eucharist – Jesus offers His Body and Blood at the Last Supper.

   • Sorrowful – Tuesday & Friday

     1. The Agony in the Garden – Jesus prays in Gethsemane while the apostles sleep.
     2. The Scourging at the Pillar – Jesus is brutally scourged by Roman soldiers.
     3. The Crowning with Thorns – Soldiers mock Jesus by crowning Him with thorns.
     4. The Carrying of the Cross – Jesus carries His Cross to Calvary.
     5. The Crucifixion – Jesus dies on the Cross for the salvation of the world.

   • Glorious – Wednesday & Sunday

     1. The Resurrection – Jesus rises from the dead on the third day.
     2. The Ascension – Jesus ascends into heaven forty days after His Resurrection.
     3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit descends upon Mary and the apostles at Pentecost.
     4. The Assumption – Mary is assumed body and soul into heaven.
     5. The Coronation of Mary – Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and earth.

7. Our Father

8. Hail Mary (ten times, one for each bead of the decade)

9. Glory Be

10. Fatima Prayer

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins,
save us from the fires of hell,
lead all souls to heaven,
especially those most in need of Thy mercy.

Repeat steps 6-10 for the remaining four decades.

11. Hail Holy Queen

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
to thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us;
and after this our exile
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Amen.

12. Final Prayer

O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

13. Memorare (optional)

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help,
or sought thy intercession
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother;
to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.

14. Prayer to St. Michael (optional)

St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle;
be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God
cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.

15. Sign of the Cross

Latin Prayers & Instructions

1. Signum Crucis
   In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

2. Credo

Credo in Deum,
Patrem omnipotentem,
Creatorem caeli et terrae,
et in Iesum Christum, Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum,
qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto,
natus ex Maria Virgine,
passus sub Pontio Pilato,
crucifixus, mortuus et sepultus;
descendit ad inferos;
tertia die resurrexit a mortuis;
ascendit ad caelos,
sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis;
inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos.

Credo in Spiritum Sanctum,
sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam,
sanctorum communionem,
remissionem peccatorum,
carnis resurrectionem,
et vitam aeternam.
Amen.

3. Pater Noster

Pater noster, qui es in caelis,
sanctificetur nomen tuum.
Adveniat regnum tuum.
Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie,
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.
Et ne nos inducas in tentationem,
sed libera nos a malo. Amen.

4. Ave Maria (ter)

Pro incremento in pace, spes et caritas. (libitum)

Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

5. Gloria Patri

Gloria Patri, et Filio,
et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio,
et nunc, et semper,
et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

6. Annumtia Mysterium Primum
   (Gaudiosa, Luminosa, Dolorosa, seu Gloriosa, pro die)

   • Gaudiosa – feria secunda et sabbato

     1. Annuntiatio – Angelus Gabriel annuntiat nativitatem Iesus.
     2. Visitatio – Infans in utero Elisabeth exsultat Mariae visitatione.
     3. Nativitas – Iesus nascitur in Bethlehem.
     4. Praesentatio – Iesus in Templo offertur.
     5. Inventio in Templo – Iesus in Templo docet.

   • Luminosa – feria quinta

     1. Baptismus – Iesus baptizatur a Ioanne in Iordane.
     2. Nuptiae Canenses – Iesus mutat aquam in vinum.
     3. Praedicatio Regni – Iesus annuntiat Regnum Dei.
     4. Transfiguratio – Iesus transfiguratur in monte Thabor.
     5. Institutio Eucharistiae – Iesus instituit Eucharistiam.

   • Dolorosa – feria tertia et sexta

     1. Agonia – Iesus orat in horto.
     2. Flagellatio – Iesus flagellatur.
     3. Coronatio – Iesus coronatur spinis.
     4. Crucis Baja – Iesus crucem portat.
     5. Crucifixio – Iesus moritur in cruce.

   • Gloriosa – feria quarta et dominica

     1. Resurrectio – Iesus resurgit.
     2. Ascensio – Iesus ascendit in caelum.
     3. Pentecostes – Spiritus Sanctus descendit.
     4. Assumptio – Maria assumitur.
     5. Coronatio – Maria coronatur Regina.

7. Pater Noster

8. Ave Maria (decies)

9. Gloria Patri

10. O mi Iesu

O mi Iesu, dimitte nobis debita nostra,
salva nos ab igne inferiori,
perduc omnes animas in caelum,
praesertim eas quae maxime indigent misericordia tua.

Repete passus 6-10 pro quattuor reliquis decennis.

11. Salve Regina

Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae,
vita, dulcedo et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Evae;
ad te suspiramus gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia ergo, advocata nostra,
illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix.
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.

Amen.

12. Oratio Finalis

Deus, cuius Unigenitus, per vitam, mortem et resurrectionem suam, nobis salutis aeternae praemia comparavit, concede, quaesumus, ut haec mysteria sacratissimi Rosarii beatae Mariae Virginis recolentes, et imitemur quod continent, et consequamur quod promittunt. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

13. Memorare (libitum)

Memorare, O piissima Virgo Maria,
non esse auditum a saeculo,
quemquam ad tua currentem praesidia,
tua implorantem auxilia,
tua petentem suffragia,
esse derelictum.
Ego tali confidentia ad te, Virgo Virginum, Mater, curro;
ad te venio, coram te gemens peccator assisto.
Noli, Mater Verbi, verba mea despicere,
sed audi propitia et exaudi.
Amen.

14. Oratio ad Sanctum Michaëlem (libitum)

Sancte Michael Archangele,
defende nos in proelio;
contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium.
Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur:
tuque, Princeps militiae caelestis,
satanam aliosque spiritus malignos,
qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo,
divina virtute in infernum detrude.
Amen.

15. Signum Crucis

About the Rosary

The Rosary is a meditative prayer that combines vocal prayer with contemplation of the mysteries of Christ’s life. It developed in the Middle Ages and was popularized by St. Dominic. Each decade invites the faithful to “announce” a mystery and then immerse themselves in that scene while praying ten Hail Marys.